A former Times of Zambia journalist has been swindled out of K80,000 by a Lusaka businessman who purported to have land for sale when in fact not. Xavier Manchishi has since dragged businessman Selemani Mhone to the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for allegedly swindling him of his money. Mhone, 43, appeared before Lusaka Magistrate Thandose Chabala yesterday to answer to the offence of obtaining money by false pretences.

It is alleged that on May 31 this year, Mhone, with intent to defraud, obtained K80,000 from Mr Manchishi by pretending that he had a piece of land for sale when in fact not.

When the court read the charge, the straight-faced Mhone of Matero Township in Lusaka said he understood it but denied committing it.
His lawyer, Samuel Nyirongo, applied that the matter be handled in a different court to avoid prejudice. “There is another matter coming before you [Magistrate Chabala] for defence in which the same accused person [Mhone] will appear before you. We [defence] are seeking for guidance to consider whether you [magistrate] can recuse yourself in the matter,” he said.

Mr Nyirongo also wondered why the State did not combine the obtaining money by false pretences charge with the other charge before the same court. But the State objected to the application on grounds that the charge Mhone is facing is fresh. “It is not true that we delayed to bring the [latest] matter before court,” public prosecutor Aaron Ntuntuluka argued. Magistrate Chabala granted the application and adjourned the mater to Thursday this week.

Meanwhile, the matter in which a Zambian and two Tanzanians are accused of trafficking in 24 kilogrammes of cocaine which went missing at court recently has been adjourned to Thursday this week for defence.

Sydney Kapembwa, 33, an assistant manager, Shaibu Likuta, a 42-year-old Tanzanian conductor, and Teddy Matanda, 35, a taxi driver, are charged with six counts of trafficking in narcotic substances and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The trio allegedly